BHP Billiton says it cannot officially confirm a record Clark Shaft haul at Olympic Dam.
But in their latest production report the company has reported strong production levels at the mine in the most recent quarter of this year.
During April to June the amount of base metals being extracted from Olympic Dam were almost at levels seen before the Clark Shaft accident.
The mine produced 37,300 tonnes of copper cathode over the three months, more than 16 times the March quarter.
The production of refined silver and uranium oxide concentrate also nearly returned to levels seen before the shaft accident last year.
About 712 tonnes of uranium and 112,000 ounces of silver were extracted.
The production report notes a revived Olympic Dam has contributed to a growth in copper production at BHP sites worldwide.
However it also says the company continues to be cautious on the global economy’s short-term outlook.
“Uncertainty surrounds the near term prospects for growth in the developed world as governments adjust fiscal policies following a period of significant stimulus and subsequent increase in sovereign debt levels,” it reads.
“Within China, measures introduced to reduce growth to more sustainable levels mean volatility in the commodity and end-demand is likely to persist.”
Six months ago Roxby Down’s was in the midst of one of the worst periods of its history.
The global financial crisis and Clark Shaft accident had hit the town at its heart, Olympic Dam, and the pain was being felt from the shop front to the coalface.
But the town has now received its surest sign yet it is back in business.
In the last month Roxby Downs’ remaining rental properties were gobbled up.
According to Raine & Horne’s Craig Sumsion, “the town is full”.
“There used to be up to 25 properties available and now we’re lucky if we have any at all,” he said.
“We’ve got nothing available to rent.
“This is the best we’ve seen in two years.”
Mr Sumsion said he expected the next move to begin in Andamooka, as residents from Roxby Downs begin to overflow into the quirky outback town.
But he was less confident about predicting how far rents and house prices were likely to rise as the town recovered.
While weekly rents were a hundred dollars higher on average before the Clark shaft accident, at $440, he has cautioned, “they won’t jump to that overnight”.
“They’ll start to go up but it will be steady.”
Mr Sumsion said the past two years had been the worst on record for his business in terms of home sales.
He hoped there would now be some breathing space for the businesses and people who had invested in the town.
“It’s turning around ... other businesses in town say they are starting to see new faces,” he said.
“There’s a more positive attitude around the town than there has been for along time.”
The latest quarterly report from the Real Estate Institute of South Australia put the average weekly rent in Roxby Downs at $350.
In the June quarter local homes sold for an average of $372,000.
These figures are still the highest in regional South Australia.
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